Haramaya University ISSD Oromia East Newsletter · 2015. 1. 14. · Integrated Seed Sector...

Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD) Ethiopia

Programme, Oromia East Unit

Haramaya University

Through a vibrant and pluralistic seed sector, quality seed of

superior varieties are available and affordable to a larger number

of farmers, thereby contributing to agriculture for food security and

economic development in Ethiopia

THE VISIONOF ISSD

DETAILS OF COVER PHOTOS

From left to right

Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD) Ethiopia Programme, Annual Magazine 2014, Haramaya University

Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD) Ethiopia Programme,

Oromia East Unit

HARAMAYA UNIVERSITY

ii


CONTR BUTERS

Seed Innovator

Partnership and Private Sector Innovator

Agri-business Innovator

Kemal Kasim

Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Development

(KSCD) Innovator

Dandena Gelmesa

Ashebir Demie

Reta Wagery

Nigussie Dechassa (PhD)

ii


List of Abbreviations---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Editor’s Note------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Acknowledgements------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Message from the Coordinator----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD) Programme in Ethiopia: Overview-----------

Regional Updates of Mid 2014---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Role of Mini-media: The Business of Changing Lives of SPC Members and Mobilizing

Smallholder Farmers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Field Clustering in Local Seed Business: An Emerging Approach to Improve Crop Production and

Productivity of Smallholder Farmers---------------------------------------------------------------------

Towards Participatory Communication for Social Change: Integrating Different Communica-

tion Strategies to Effect Wider Dissemination of Seed Knowledge and Information-------------

Multi-stakeholder Partnership for Seed Sector Development: A Theoretical Frame-

work----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Multi-stakeholder Partnership Activities of the Seed Sector in Oromia East-----------------------

Return for Smallholder Farmers--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Towards a Seed Quality Advisory Service in Oromia East-------------------------------------------

A Photo Story: The Journey of ISSD Oromia East in 2014------------------------------------------

iv

v

vi

vi

1

4

6

9

12

16

19

22

27

25

iii

Table of Contents


iv

List of Abbreviations

SPCs Seed Producer Cooperatives

LSB Local Seed Business

COBFU Chercher Oda Bultum Farmers Union

ISSD Integrated Seed Sector Development

McARC Mechara Agricultural Research Centre

FARC Fedis Agricultural Research Centre

FBSM Farmer Based Seed Multiplication

CAiLR College of Agro-industry and Land Resource

HU Haramaya University

BOA Bureau of Agriculture

Qt Quintal (a unit weighing 100 kg)

NGOs Non Governmental Organizations

DAs Development Agents

KATVET Kombolcha Agricultural Technical Vocational

Educational Training

DLS Diffused Light Storage


Greetings to all of our readers in Ethi-

opia and abroad! This is the very

East magazine, and we are pleased

to share it with you. The ISSD programme aims to

strengthen the development of a vibrant, market-

oriented, and pluralistic seed sector in Ethiopia.

In a changing rural context, where smallholder

farmers are constrained by multiple challenges

on a daily basis, a one-way communication is

obsolete. The element that is often missing in

development programmes is a two-way commu-

nication between decision makers, experts, and

-

munication made us to realise the importance of

diverse communications to effect a wider dissem-

ination of knowledge and information. It is based

on this background knowledge that, the ISSD

programme has been making a number of inter-

ventions to promote effective communications

among partners and stakeholders. This magazine

-

munication among stakeholders engaged in meet-

ing a common objective.

The magazine is intended to serve the ISSD Oro-

mia East programme as a vehicle of disseminat-

ing its activities and success stories. It is gener-

ally hoped to provide readers with an insight into

the activities and achievements of the programme

during the time spanning from late 2013 to mid-

2014.

The information and success stories contained in

-

tained and experiences gained at the grass-roots

level from farmers, local organisations and other

stakeholders. With this edition, we hope to share

knowledge and information about the ISSD Oro-

mia East programme.

The magazine will give a glimpse of the activi-

ties of the ISSD Oromia East programme. It spe-

been exerting to increase availability of afford-

able quality seeds of desirable crop varieties to

a large number of farmers at local levels through

enhancing the capacity of Seed Producing Coop-

eratives (SPCs) in the region.

I wish you good reading!

Kemal Kasim, Knowledge Sharing and Capac-

ity Development Innovator

Editor’s Note

v


Seed is a basic input for agricultural production. One has to make a distinc-

tion between seed as a grain (for consumption) and seed as a planting mate-

rial. Seed as a planting material is a demanding commodity in the sense that

it has to be of high quality to generate high yield. Seed quality constitutes

four basic aspects: physical quality (freedom from admixtures), physiologi-

cal quality (optimum internal conditions), genetic quality (the right variety

or cultivar), and seed health (freedom from diseases and pests).

Quality seed is a scarce commodity in Ethiopia. Therefore, most farmers

plant grains rather than seeds, sustaining yield reductions of at least 30%.

This is because there is no enough seed supply. Seed suppliers in Ethiopia

are mostly public institutions such as research and agricultural universities

or public seed enterprises. However, the amount of seeds the public insti-

tutions supply is very small compared to the demand. A few private seed

supply seeds of crops that are important for food security particularly self-

pollinated, open-pollinated, and vegetaitively propagated crops. Therefore,

As a whole, the supply of quality seed does not match its demand in Ethi-

opia. Thus, aimed at contributing to the nation-wide efforts of increasing

household and national food security and economic development, the ISSD

programme has initiated and established a system of improving the avail-

ability of quality seeds through capacitating smallholder farmers as seed

producing entrepreneurs, supporting private seed sector development and

institutionalising seed sector development using partnership projects. The

programme has registered considerable achievements in Ethiopia in increas-

ing the supply of quality seeds to farmers at affordable prices.

This magazine describes activities and achievements of the ISSD pro-

gramme in eastern Oromia region. It is hoped to give our readers an insight

into the challenges, opportunities, and the general prospect of the seed sec-

tor development in Ethiopia.

Nigussie Dechassa (PhD), Coordinator of the ISSD Ethiopia Programme,

Oromia East Unit

Acknowledgements

This magazine has been produced

by the ISSD (Integrated Seed Sector

Development) Ethiopia Programme

of Oromia East Region. The innova-

tors, the coordinator, as well as local

partners of the project have contrib-

and insights to realize this publica-

tion. We would like to thank all peo-

ple who have tirelessly worked on

the preparation of the document and

all of the additional work that this

entailed. We are grateful for Centre

for Development Innovation (CDI)

of Wageningen University and Re-

search Centre and the Royal Neth-

erlands Embassy in Addis Ababa

-

nically advising the ISSD Ethiopia

Programme. We also appreciate our

regional partners for persistently

supporting the implementation of

the programme. We would also like

-

fairs of Haramaya University for

facilitating the logistics required to

run the programme.

Message from the Coordinator vi


The ISSD Ethiopia programme is implemented

by a consortium of partners including four uni-

versities (Bahir Dar, Haramaya, Hawassa, and

Mekelle), Oromia Seed Enterprise, Ethiopian

Seed Association, and Centre for Development

Innovation (CDI) of Wageningen University

and Research Centre. The programme is imple-

mented in four regions [Oromia, Amhara, Tigray,

and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’

Region (SNNPR)] in the country in collaboration

with several partners at national, regional, and lo-

Ministry of Foreign Affars through the Royal

Netherlands Embassy in Addis Ababa.

-

plemented from 2009 to 2011 mainly through the

LSB (Local Seed Business) project, with 34 Seed

Producers’ Cooperatives (SPCs) in the country.

Under the LSB scheme, the LSB farmer groups

have been supported to become technically bet-

ter equipped and more commercial in their seed

production and marketing efforts, as well as to

become more autonomous in their operations in

the seed sector.

Later, ISSD Ethiopia phase II programme was

launched in January 2012. This phase of the pro-

gramme was launched with the vision of realising

a vibrant and pluralistic seed sector development,

where quality seed of superior varieties become

available and affordable to a larger number of

farmers, thereby contributing to agriculture for

food security and economic development in the

country.

Components of ISSD Ethiopia

Programme Phase-II

The objective of the ISSD programme phase II

is to strengthen the development of a vibrant,

market oriented and pluralistic seed sector de-

velopment in Ethiopia. The programme follows

the ISSD development principles in targeting its

businesses (LSBs), private seed producers (oper-

ating at a regional scale) and seed companies (op-

erating at a national scale). The programme also

promotes institutional innovation in the sector

through partnership components. In addition, the

programme supports services addressing different

sectors, including research and studies, sharing

experiences and lessons learnt, and capacity de-

velopment. Furthermore, the implementation of

enabling policy frameworks is supported (Figure

1) by the programme. 1) y prog

Figure 1: Components of the ISSD Ethiopia

programme phase-II

The Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD) Programme in

Ethiopia: Overview1


-

menters of the programme, which is hosted by

Haramaya University operating in the East and

West Hararghe Zones of Oromia National Re-

gional State. The unit works to promote seed en-

trepreneurship at local levels, thereby increasing

farmers’ access to and availability of quality and

quantity seed at affordable prices in the region. In

the second phase of the ISSD programme, it was

planned to scale up the number of LSBs through

local partnership arrangements with different or-

ganizations operating in the region. Accordingly,

the programme has been supporting SPCs in col-

laboration with different stakeholders, namely,

woreda agricultural development and cooperative

-

ricultural colleges and NGOs. The stakeholders

have been supporting the SPCs in accessing basic

seed, strengthening their organisational capacity,

infrastructure facilities

tools, implements, and machinery as well as tech-

nical supports, market information, and seed mar-

keting skills. Currently, more than 40 SPCs have

been established in the region by the programme

(Table 1).

The key partners engaged in LSB scaling up include

of Agro-industry and Land Resource (CAiLR),

Fedis and Mechara Agricultural Research Centres,

Kombolcha ATVET College, Chercher Oda Bul-

The majority of the established SPCs have started

production and marketing of seeds of different

crops and varieties. Volume of seed produced by

the SPCs are also increasing from year to year and

seed demand (Figure 2).

Imp

le-

men

ters

No

of

LS

B

site

*N

o

of

wo

red

a No of farmers in the SPCs

Cro

p

*N

o o

f

va

riet

y

Total M F F (%)

HU- ISSD Unit 5 5 401 353 48 11.97 Maize , Groundnut,

Potato,Wheat, Common

bean, Onion

12

HU-Research 9 6 408 312 96 23.53 Potato, Wheat, Groundnut 5

HU-CAiLR 8 5 1176 1064 112 9.53 Teff, Maize, Common bean,

Wheat, Potato

8

FARC 8 3 935 718 217 23.21 Groundnut, Sorghum, Maize,

Potato

5

McARC 3 3 120 119 1 0.83 Sorghum, Wheat, Finger Mil-

let, Teff

2

KATVET College 3 2 375 350 25 6.67 Potato, Wheat 4

Chercher Oda Bul-

tum Union

5 2 763 657 106 13.89 Common bean, Teff, Maize 4

CARE-East Hara- 3 1 176 111 65 36.9 Maize, Wheat, Sorghum 4

Total 42 19 4354 3684 670 15.38 9 32

Table 1: Summary of established SPCs in East and West Hararghe Zones

ISSD Oromia East Programme at a Glance2

*There are overlapping of woredas and crop varieties


The ISSD programme aims also at

strengthening small and medium-

scale private seed producers, sup-

porting their establishment and op-

erations, and enhancing capacity

building through promoting pub-

lic-private partnerships. However,

the involvement of the private sec-

tor in seed business in the region is

in its infancy. Nevertheless, on the

basis of assessment of the poten-

seed producers, which were sup-

posed to be competent and having

the capacity to grow and diver-

sify seed businesses, have been

selected. They have started seed

businesses through technical sup-

ports provided by the programme.

The key problem associated with

the private seed producers entering

to the seed business is lack of the

necessary quality control mecha-

nism, which depends on outside

support for production techniques,

start up support, quality assurance

body, market linkage, etc. There-

fore, newly established private

seed producers often need reas-

surances and support in the early

stages by both technical and seed

policy related issues.

Under the partnership and innova-

tion project component, the ISSD

programme aims at developing a

mechanism with institutionalised

regional coordinating bodies to fa-

cilitate innovations and learning in

the seed sector related challenges

beyond the local level. The pro-

cess itself develops and consoli-

dates clear roles, responsibilities,

and task divisions among seed sec-

tor stakeholders. Major innovative

projects currently under implemen-

tation include: experimentation

with post-harvest seed processing

technologies for enhancing quality

seed production; institutionalisa-

tion of seed quality advisory ser-

vices at Haramaya University; es-

tablishing cooperative-based seed

education and extension system;

enhancing availability of Hararghe

specialty coffee seedlings through

farmer-participatory variety se-

lection (PVS); and production

of early generation seeds (EGS).

The leading partners for the im-

plementation of these projects are

Fedis Agricultural Research Cen-

tre (FARC), Mechara Agricultural

Research Centre (McARC), Hara-

maya University, Kombolcha AT-

VET College, and Unions in East

and West Hararghe Zones.

The Knowledge Sharing and Ca-

pacity Development component

(KSCD) has been tasked with

the role of facilitating the sharin

of knowledge and lessons learnt

through different communica-

tion strategies among partners and

stakeholders at local, regional and,

national levels. Accordingly, activ-

ities of the ISSD programme espe-

cially those associated with SPCs

in seed business have been inten-

sively promoted through diverse

communication channels includ-

ing publications, radio and televi-

sion, seed exhibitions, mini-media,

website, social media and others.

To generate evidence-based solu-

tions to the challenges facing the

seed sector, the programme has

been also conducting research

through funding MSc and BSc stu-

dents at LSBs sites in the region.

The themes of research under-

way include but are not limited to

seed marketing and organizational

performances of seed producers,

participatory variety selection,

impact of quality seed on produc-

tion, productivity and livelihoods

of farmers, demand assessment of

-

of SPCs and related topics.

3

Figure 2: Seed production trends by SPCs from 2010-2013 in East and

West Hararghe Zones


For the last six months, the ISSD

Oromia East Unit has conducted

a number of activities in all seed

sector components of the pro-

gramme. Under the LSB compo-

nent, extensive capacity build-

ing activities were done through

training farmers, development

agents (DA), experts, and other

stakeholders. The training was

conducted aimed at both con-

solidation and scaling up of LSB

sites.

With regard to the consolidation

component, training was given to

members of four SPCs. A total of

56 SPC members, 21 experts and

DAs received the training on post-

harvest seed processing and value

addition, organizational manage-

ment and record keeping skills as

well as seed promotion and mar-

keting principles.

Under the scaling up component,

74 SPC members and 47 experts

and DAs drawn from partner or-

ganisations were given training by

the ISSD programme in collabora-

tion with FARC and HU-CAiLR.

The training focused on theories

and practices of quality seed pro-

duction, post-harvest seed han-

dling and value addition, organi-

sational management and record

keeping, as well as seed market-

ing and promotion principles. On

the other hand, seed samples were

collected from SPCs and checked

for quality in the seed science

laboratory of Haramaya Univer-

sity. The results of the laboratory

seed analysis were shared with the

SPC representatives and experts

to caution farmers against seed

quality related problems (seed

admixtures, mechanical damage,

disease, etc). This was intended

to strengthen the capacity of the

farmers to exercise seed quality

control and storage management.

-

bility analysis of seed versus grain

production was another acttivity

conducted under this component.

The result of the study revealed

that seed business leads to a high-

er economic return for smallhold-

er farmers than a grain enterprise.

presented on regional ISSD work-

shop of 2014.

for the SPCs is another activity

of this component. Accordingly,

a workshop was organised with

Raree Horaa SPCs with the objec-

tive of discussing on collaboration

between the commercial bank of

Ethiopia-Haramaya branch with

members of the SPC. More than

50 members and seed out-grow-

ers of the SPCs participated in

the workshop. The participants

learned the mechanism of linking

Under the partnership and inno-

vation component, training was

conducted for regional regulatory

functionaries to enhance the seed

quality assurance capacity of Oro-

mia Region’s Bureau of Agricul-

ture (BoA). The training focussed

on seed production techniques,

seed health analysis, legal and

procedures and policy frame-

works, and seed quality analysis

techniques. A total of 15 partici-

pants, out of whom three were

women, participated in the train-

ing. The participants were drawn

from zone and regional Bureaus

of Agriculture (BOA). The train-

ing included both theoretical and

practical aspects. It was conduct-

ed for ten days on the main cam-

pus of the university.

The other accomplishment under

this component is the launching

of a ‘seed quality control advisory

service’ at Haramaya University.

This was aimed at institutionalis-

ing seed quality control and cer-

future. The advisory service was

established by setting up a seed

quality advisory council consti-

tuting a plant breeder, and seed

quality experts drawn from the

University as well as from BOAs

of East and West Hararghe Zones.

The group has already started the

assurance in the region, and will

continue with seed quality tests in

Regional Updates of Mid 2014

By Kemal Kasim, KSCD Innovator

4


the laboratory of the University.

In addition, seed fairs were organ-

ised by Afran Qallo and Chercher

Oda Bultum farmers’ unions at

open markets of Kersa and Be-

dasa towns, respectively. The ob-

jectives of the events were to pro-

mote seed businesses among the

actors and stakeholders as well as

to create linkages between SPCs

and local farmers for seed market-

ing. More than 1000 participants

from rural, urban and peri-urban

areas took part in the seed fair

events.

Under the Knowledge Sharing

and Capacity Development Com-

ponenet, four key results were

achieved: 1) a seed exhibition was

conducted during the 7th Ethio-

pian public Universities Intercol-

legiate Sports Competition that

was hosted by the University. A

-

ies, including the President of the

Federal Democratic Republic of

Ethiopia, Dr. Mulatu Teshome,

the Minister of Education, Mr.

Shiferaw Shigute and presidents

from 31 public universities in

Ethiopia, regional government

-

ers, and members of the Univer-

sity’s community viewed the

ISSD activities and success sto-

ries exhibited during the ocassion.

More than 3000 people visited

the exhibition for seven days. 2)

ISSD Oromia East team arranged

an experience-sharing event with

experts from MercyCorps and of-

Sate. The objective of the event

was to share experiences of the

LSB model and success stories

with the visitors. A total of 15 per-

sons from MercyCorps and rep-

farmers from Somali Regional

State participated in the event.

3) Results of MSc thesis research

work conducted through ISSD

grants on seed sector-related

problems were compiled in a bul-

letin aimed at disseminating the

makers for further interventions to

improve the seed sector in Ethio-

pia.

4) A nine-day experience sharing

tour was organized to Hawassa

ISSD Unit, including Selam Ha-

wassa Business Group PLC, Asela

Seed Laboratory, Ethiopian Seed

enterprise, Maqi Batu Farmers’

Union and Holeta Research Cen-

tre for LSB partners and innova-

tors. The programme was organ-

ized to enlighten the participants

on the practices and challenges of

LSB seed business marketing (di-

-

tion and quality issues, seed value

addition and post harvest handling

etc). In the wake of the tour, the

participants were enthused to in-

corporate the lessons learned from

the tour into their 2014 LSB ac-

tion plan.

Experts from MercyCorps and Somali Regional State visit a potato seed multiplication activities at Ra-ree Horaa SPC in 2014

Experience sharing event of HU-ISSD innovators and partner focal persons at Kayo SPCs of ISSD Hawassa Uni-versity in 2014

Regional updates .... cont.d

5


Raree Horaa SPC is one of the seed

producers’ cooperatives consolidated

through the support of the Oromia

East ISSD programme. The SPC be-

came legally registered and acquired

this name in early 2010 through fa-

cilitation by the ISSD Oromia East

Programme. The SPC is located at

Tinike kebele of Haramaya woreda.

Currently, it has 41 active members,

with a capital of more than 376,000

Birr. In 2013, the SPC produced

more than 765 tonnes of potato seed

tubers of both improved and local va-

rieties, namely, Bubu, Zemen, Bate

and Daddefa. The SPC sold the tuber

seeds to local farmers, government

organizations, research centres and

NGOs.

Through the technical backstopping

acquired from the ISSD Oromia East

programme, the SPC was able to

gradually increase the market price

and customer diversity. For example,

according to the price data recorded

in different years, the average prices

of 100 kg potato seed tubers in 2011,

2012 and 2013 were 430, 530 and

600 Birr, respectively. The integrated

capacity building intervention con-

ducted by the ISSD programme with

local partners strengthened the posi-

tion of SPCs in such away that they

were able to double their average in-

come from seed business to 35,000

Birr in 2014 as compared to the in-

come they had earned in 2011, which

had amounted to less than 15,000

Birr.

The intervention

The ISSD Oromia East Unit started

implementing the ISSD model with

Raree Horaa SPCs in the cropping

year of 2010. The objective of the im-

plementation was to enable the SPC

to become technically well equipped,

better organized, and entrepreneurial

business entities in seed production

and marketing.

been recorded in the last few years,

experiences gained from the inter-

vention have revealed a number of

challenges that constrain seed busi-

ness of the SPC. The challenges have

through a baseline survey. The spe-

weak knowledge and information

at the demand side (on the use and

adoption of improved seeds), lack

of seed promotion and weak market

information, and weak coordination

and networking with customers and

stakeholders. These challenges sig-

-

semination of seed knowledge and

information as well as the viability of

seed businesses. The ISSD Oromia

East programme realised that these

challenges need to be tackled.

Agenda and idea positioning

To improve the challenges and en-

sure the viability of seed business of

the SPC, the ISSD Oromia East has

creating awareness and facilitating

information dissemination among

stakeholders and customers.

After a lot of analysis and idea po-

sitioning, the LSB project came up

with the idea of creating communica-

tion channels as a strategy to tackle

the constraints. This is because com-

munication is an important tool to

accelerate social leaning, network

building and improve negotiation

skills especially in a group of people

with similar goals (Leeuwis, 2011).

However, today’s many national and

international organisations engaging

in rural development projects have

seen much pronounced fashionable

communication concepts like ICTs

and hybrid media (internet). These

channels are unthinkable in the con-

text of the ISSD Oromia East where

the majority of the farmers cannot

read and write. Thus, the project

started scanning and revisiting the

environment to identify available

communication resources. Accord-

ingly, FM radio and mini-media were

Innovation application

The mini-media and HU FM radio

programmes have been promoting

seed knowledge and information

particularly on advantages derived

by farmers from using quality seeds

for planting. The programmes have

been dessiminating also information

to increase productivity, as well as

sources of quality seeds, agronomic

The Role of Mini-media: The Business of Changing Lives of

SPC members and mobilising smallholder farmers


6


aspect, seed marketing aspect (in

credit, in cash, pricing strategy,

etc) for the farmers, stakeholders,

and other customers.

The seed knowledge and infor-

mation has been broadcast in the

local tongue (Oromo language)

by combining entertaining and

educative programme segements

(speech, seed music songs, drama,

poems etc) to effect wider dissem-

ination.

Moreover, on top of catalysing

innovation, the mini-media and

HU FM radio were also tasked

with creating awareness on or-

ganizational structure of the SPC,

improvement on the livelihood of

members of the SPC, mobilising

membership, increasing the mo-

mentum of scaling up seed knowl-

edge and information.

The other merit of mini-media

is to deliver information for re-

source-poor farmers (especially

non-SPC members) who do not

afford to own radio or under con-

dition of poor accessibility of ra-

dio waves due to rugged topogra-

phy and remoteness. For instance,

farmers who are unable to tune to

HU FM community radio broad-

casting programme (FM 91.5) can

have the alternative to listen to

the programme through the mini-

media.

A recent impact assessment of

these channels (HU FM 91.5 Ra-

dio and mini-media ) conducted

that 100% of the respondents

preferred information they were

accessing on this broadcasting

channel and the local mini-media

Raree Horaa SPC members gather at their mini-media station to share their experiences on the national radio programme

Mini-media facilitator at Raree Horaa SPCs in 2014

Harvesting high yielding and late blight disease-resistant Bubu potato

variety in Raree Horaa SPC in 2014 cropping season

7


By providing technical backstopping and nec-

essary accessories for media, the ISSD Oromia

East Unit, established a mini-media transmission

local mini-media and HU FM 91.5 programme

helped the SPCs and farmers to get information

from using quality seed, and seed marketing.

This markedly improved community awareness

on seed knowledge and information which re-

sulted in increased number s of SPC customers

and out-growers. The information stimulated

also non-SPC members to visit SPCs and act as

out-growers. Consequently, Raree Horaa SPC

has its non-active members swollen by 126,

who are producing seed tubers of improved and

local potato varieties as out-growers. The non-

members obtain inputs and technical supports

from the SPC members. Building up on this ex-

perience, the SPC has a plan to identify poten-

tial members from the out-growers for incorpo-

ration into full membership. The innovation has

been also being taken up by other SPCs. As a

result of the observable successes, several Scal-

ing up LSBs are also demanding the installation

of mini-media at their sites.

The establishment and maintenance of di-

verse, dynamic, and free media is vital for de-

velopment. The importance of getting the media

‘right’ is high especially at the grass-roots levels

where smallholder farmers confront multiple

challenges on a daily basis. The media plays an

important role in conveying and sharing infor-

mation and knowledge on quality seeds. This

was revealed by farmers using the mini-media

in which they commentated on problems they

face while producing seeds such as disease out-

breaks, moisture stress, etc as well as on the

promotion of introduced technologies to the

village, scaling up of local innovations such as

tillage, soil fertillity management, desease con-

trol practices, etc.

Results Lessons learned

8


The idea of land consolidation or

clustering emerged in the early

1750s (FAO, 2003) for the purpose

of enhancing the quality of rural

life in agricultural production,

employment, infrastructure, hous-

ing and the protection of natural

resources. In reality, land cluster-

ing was associated with broader

social and economic reforms at

the time of its earliest applications

in Western Europe (FAO, 2003).

Denmark in the 1750s were part

of a profound social reform to free

people from obligations to noble

landlords by establishing private-

ly-owned family farms.

In addition to facilitating basic

infrastructure and improved live-

lihood of rural life, land cluster-

ing plays a vital role in improving

agriculture and natural resource

management (FAO, 2003). This

is because land clustering can fa-

cilitate the creation of competi-

tive agricultural production ar-

rangements by enabling farmers

to have farms with fewer parcels

that are larger and better shaped,

and to expand the size of their

holdings. In the agricultural sec-

is the practice of facilitating pro-

duction of the same crop or va-

riety on adjacent plots in wider

areas. The main target of the ap-

proach is to ensure production of

the same crop and variety under

uniform management practices

and production calendar to allow

the development of a tract entirely

instead of lot by lot. Ethiopia’s ag-

ricultural extension systems have

been enjoying a rapid resurgence

due to the government’s favour-

able agricultural sector develop-

ment plan. Specially networking

approach and the extensive sup-

port programme accompanying it

is a key component

for the transformation of the ag-

riculture sector. Production of

seed s or grains through the clus-

ter approach is a tool that can

ensure quality product and uni-

formly increase production and

productivity of a large number of

smallholder farmers, which are

characterised by fragmented land

holding systems. In the LSB pro-

ject, under the fragmented farm-

ing system, seed quality control

is a big challenges especially for

crops such as maize, wheat, sor-

ghum, peanut etc. The best way

to maintain seed quality is clus-

tering adjacent lands into a larger

not an easy task. This is because

farmers with fragmented land

holdings have varied intersts and

would like to grow different crops

and adopt different management

practices on the same plot of land.

This is because fragmentation is

the risk of crop failures by pro-

viding them a greater variety of

growing conditions, especially in

mountainous areas.

In the Ethiopian agriculture,

the presence of a large number

of farmers with low skills and

knowledge gaps has impeded the

practices of good land prepara-

tion, row planting, crop fertiliza-

tion and pest management. In the

face of such problems, land clus-

turing could be a good remedy for

improving agricultural production

and attaining quality seeds. In line

with this, the ISSD Oromia East

Unit has been imparting knowl-

edge and experiences of land clus-

tering through training and aware-

ness creation in the region (East

and west Hararghe Zones) for the

past two years. Owing to its suc-

cesses, the Local Seed Business

(LSB) project is being scaled up

Field Clustering in Local Seed Business: An Emerging Approach to

Improve Crop Production and Productivity of Smallholder Farmers

Land preparation for clustering maize seed production at Jalala Bishan Babile SPC in 2014

By Dandena Gelmesa, Seed Innovator

9


by partners in a number of woredas

of East and West Hararghe zones.

Many reports and observations in-

dicated that, using improved crop

varieties combined with improved

agronomic practices resulted two

to three-fold increases in produc-

tivity. A good example of produc-

ing maize seed through the land

clustering approach was started in

Babile, Fedis, Oda Bultum, Ge-

mechis, and Meiso woredas. In

this woredas, 50 to 100 ha of land

was planted to improved varieties

of maize and/or common bean

with recommended agronomic

packages. In this connections,

LSB farmers in Gemachis and

Meiso woredas reported that their

productivity increased by three-

fold compared to the productivity

obtained through the traditional

methods of production. Farmers

with adjoining plots of land were

able to adopt similar agricultural

management practices. This prac-

tice markedly improved the pro-

ductivity of the land. In addition,

occur among farmers with differ-

ing economic status (low, middle

and better class) in the previous

times were markedly narrowed.

The approach also synergised the

established by the government

and enhanced their opportunity

to discuss production plans, com-

mon challenges, and mitigation

strategies. The clustering also

increased experience sharing

among farmers in the networks

and the use of knowledge and im-

proved production technologies

in agricultural production. As a

result, farmers began obtaining

higher crop yields, which would

enhance food and nutrition secu-

rity in the region. What is more,

the skill and knowledge gaps as

well as the reluctance of farmers

to adopt improved technologies

have been minimized. In addi-

tion, a large number of farmers

adopted improved technologies

in a relatively short span of time.

-

cant role in commercialization of

agricultural commodities, there-

by contributing to the country’s

economic growth and develop-

ment. The cluster approach has

become an important tool that has

to be adopted at a wider scale for

increased productivity and seed

quality. In general, land cluster-

ing:

Improves the agricultural sec-

tor by enabling farms to be-

-

petitive, and better integrated

in agricultural chains.

inspection, control, and monitor-

Clustered common bean seed production in

Oda Bultum woreda by Kufa Kas SPC through

the support of COBFU

Field clustering in local seed business............ cont.d10

Clustered maize seed production at Meiso

woreda by Rakata Fura SPC through the support

of CAiLR


ing (LSB, 2011).

measures and good agricultural practices.

Clustered maize seed production by the support of West Hararghe BoA on more than 100 ha of land in Gemachis woreda

Lalisa Ifadin Women SPC Maize seed production at Babile woreda in 2014

Field clustering in local seed business............ cont.d11


-

in tandem with the work of other innovators of the ISSD Oromia East Unit, designed and implemented

participatory communication strategies as a key process for innovation, social learning, and network-

ing seed actors. The purposes of the activities were to facilitate seed knowledge circulation and im-

prove adoption among the seed value chain actors. Accordingly, a combination of different communi-

gatherings) was used. These strategies helped farmers, farmers’ organisations, and extension workers to

improve the intake, quality and outreach of their programmes along the seed value chains. Finally, the

dynamics of the activities and the aftermath of the situations and contexts brought impact on the develop-

ment of the seed sector.

opopopopopopopopopopopopmememememememementntntntntntntntnt ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (ISISISISISISISISISISISISISISISISISISISISISISISISISISISISISISISISISSDSDSDSDSDSDSDSDSDSDSDSDSDSDSDSD) ) ) ) ) ) EtEtEtEtEtEtEtEtEtEtEtEtEtEtEtEtEtEtEtEtEtEtEtEtEthihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihiopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaia P P P Prororororogrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgramamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamammememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe, , , , , , , , , , , , , , AnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnAnnununununununununununununununununununununununununununununununununununununununununununununununununununununununualalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalal M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M Magagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagazazazazazinininininininininininine e e e e 20202020202020202020202020202020202020202020202020202020202014141414141414141414141414141414141414, , , , , , InInInIntetegrgratatatatedededed S Seed d SeSector D Devevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevevelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopopop 14, Haramayayayayayayayayayayayaya U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U Unininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininininiveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveveversrsrsity

February 4, 2012, ISSD Oromia East HU FM 91.5

Radio programme launched

Mini-media is a cost-effective method for resource-poor farmers who cannot afford radio to access seed related

information

Towards Participatory Communication for Social Change: Integrating Different Communication Strategies to Effect Wider Dissemi-

nation of Seed Knowledge and Information


Publications tools used

for knowledge sharing

12


Towards Participatory Communication....Cont.d

Multi-purpose radio used

for seed promotion by SPC

Farmers inspecting tuber bulking of an improved

potato variety

Row-planting of the improved kuncho Teff variety en-

hances productivity and seed qualitySharing best practices on seed production in Mieso

woreda

Raree Horaa SPC deputy chairman

Shares Organizational and seed production

messages on radio

Farmer Organizations’ radio broadcasting programme

My income

was

improved

13


Music band per-forming seed promotion seeds

Songs and dramas for breaking resistance and reluctance against using

quality seeds

Entertaining through poems to cre-

ate awareness

Seed fair and exhibition

Awareness creation through tradition-

al songs and dances

Discussion among scientists, innovators, and farmers

(Professor Gebissa Ejeta, World Food Laureate, near right)

14


seed knowledge and information.

Through technical backstopping, local mini-media were installed for farmers’ organizations.

The local mini-media radio installation helped resource-poor farmers who cannot afford to buy radio

sets to get knowledge and information on seeds.

Farmers’ success stories were disseminated to the community on radio and publications.

During the seed exhibition organized at different events, innovators, farmers, and scientists shared

experiences and knowledge.

Field days and community gatherings enhanced knowledge circulation and networking among actors

and innovation sites.

Different knowledge sharing tools (songs, dramas, newsletters, poetry, etc) promoted social learning

for seed production.

Summary and Conclusion15


Multi-stakeholder partnership

(MSP) is about working relations

that are greater than the sum of

their parts and about creating last-

ing and meaningful impact at all

levels of action (Huijstee, 2012).

It is meant to promote a more ho-

listic approach towards develop-

ment and better governance. The

concept of MSP as an instrument

for achieving development goals

is sound, particularly when stake-

holders with unique complemen-

tary strengths or core competen-

cies add value to development

efforts and pool their resources

and assets in solving problems in

the particular sector. This implies

that strategic alliances between

farmers, government, and civil

societies are a growing feature

of both developed and emerging

economies (Global Knowledge

Partnership Secretariat, 2003).

Such multi-stakeholder partner-

ships are necessary because it

is increasingly clear that no one

sector in a society can deliver the

complexities of sustainable devel-

opment alone.

In its second phase, as a part of its

programme, the ISSD considered

a regional multi-stakeholder pro-

cess as a mechanism for solving

institutional and policy issues that

hamper the development of an in-

tegrated seed sector in Ethiopia.

The rationale of setting up a seed

sector partnership process in East

Oromia is to enable actors, who

would otherwise remain isolated,

to come together with policy mak-

ers, academics, experienced prac-

titioners, and research centres to

work on practical challenges, cap-

ture and share lessons, enhance

capacities towards better seed

quality, availability and afford-

ability. The ISSD Oromia East

multi stakeholder partnership pro-

cess focuses on adding value to the

work of the individual members of

the organizations and share its les-

sons learned with the wider public

, thereby contributing to improved

productivity and market function-

ing of the seed sector. The ISSD

Oromia East ensures its partners

that activities generated through

the multi-stakeholder seed sector

partnership are demand-driven

and outputs would be sustainable.

Critical bottlenecks, causes and

alternative interventions have

the seed sector multi stakeholder

partnership platform. Apart from

this activity, the platform is en-

-

ship opportunities in the region of

its operation along with the coor-

dination of the overall partnership

process.

In the operation period, the part-

nership process has managed to

engage diverse multi-stakeholder

actions which could have a posi-

tive impact on the availability

of quality seed, development of

post-harvest seed processing

technologies, improvement of ac-

cess to early generation seed, sup-

ply of potato and specialty coffee

seedlings in the region, expanding

knowledge and information on

seed, etc.

Setting Basic Principles of Seed

Sector Partnership Engagement

Principle 1: Knowing critical is-

sues leading to institutional and

systemic impact. Development

organizations engaging in multi-

sector partnerships in the seed

sector should consider key issues

such as the following:

Those aspects of institutional

bottlenecks hampering develop-

ment of the seed sector;

The positioning of innovative

partnership intervention contrib-

utes to the development of sus-

tainable seed system; and

Persistent seed system chal-

lenges, because of their complex-

ity, require the strategic alignment

of resources and competencies

across multitudes of partners,

namely, higher learning institu-

tions, research, the government,

Multi-stakeholder Partnership for Seed Sector Development:

A Theoretical Framework

By Ashebir Demie, Partnership and Private Sector Innovator

16


and NGOs etc.

Principle 2: Before agreeing to

enter a partnership, its value in

satisfying the main motive for

participation should be objective-

ly weighed against the available

alternatives and risks.

Principle 3: A multi-stakeholder

seed sector partnership will work

best when it is in the self-interest

of each party to pro-actively seek

solutions that satisfy the interests

of the other parties, i.e. when the

partnership is mutually reinforc-

ing.

Principle 4: Successful partner-

ships are built on complementary

competencies and resources that,

in combination, meet the param-

eters of some strategic goals.

Principle 5: Partnership innova-

tions are planned to work on needs

to be linked to the core ‘business’

of the respective partner organiza-

tions, in order to both retain the

relevance of the partnership to

the objectives and day-to-day ac-

tivities of the organization, and to

-

ners contributing from their exist-

ing costs.

Principle 6: Regardless of the

type of seed sector partnership in-

novations, prior consensus should

be sought for some form of a

written document identifying, at

a minimum: the shared vision of

the partnership; the objectives of

each partner for the partnership,

and the division of roles and re-

sponsibilities.

Possible Strategies for partner-

ships in the seed sector

Stage one: exploring and build-

ing the partnership

-

ers and identify opportunities for

partnering. At an early stage of a

partnership, it is critical to:

organizations would add value.

Therefore, prior to formalizing a

partnership, it is important to ex-

plore the range of options avail-

able and what resources and ca-

pacities each potential partner are

endowed with.

-

ners and secure their active in-

volvement. It is worth taking time

over this and locating as much in-

formation as possible in order to

arrive at an appropriate decision,

including undertaking research to

record’.

Assessing risks and rewards-

each partner will need to un-

derstand the potential risks and

rewards of their fellow partner

organizations almost as deeply

as their own if they are to really

commit themselves to genuine

collaboration and the principle of

As in any partnership engage-

ment, possible risks of partnership

projects in the seed sector devel-

opment may arise in any of the

following areas:

Reputation impact: all organi-

sations and institutions value their

reputation and will rightly be con-

cerned about whether that reputa-

tion can be damaged either by the

fact of the partnership itself or by

any fall-out in the future should

the partnership fail;

: whether

at strategic or operational levels,

partnership commitments can

give rise to split loyalties and/or

to the feeling pushed to settle for

uncomfortable compromises;

Drain on resources: partner-

ships typically require investment

especially human power and time

which could lead to unexpected

drainage towards the partnership

project;

Implementation challenges :

once a partnership is established

and resources procured, there will

be a fresh set of commitment and

other challenges for each partner

organization as the partnership

moves into project implementa-

tion;

Build the partnership: Develop

a shared purpose.

Multi-stakeholder partnership: A theoretical framework....

Cont.d17


Shared aims, purposes, goals and

strategies for the partnership, un-

derpinned by Memoranda of Un-

derstanding (MoU) between part-

ners where necessary, help to build

trusting relationships and provide

a framework for action. Be clear

about the roles and relationships

between partners. Here, partners

should take joint responsibility

for outcomes, good and bad.

Stage Two: As the partnership

develops, other factors become

important

Bring in new partners as neces-

sary. Stakeholders and sometimes

partners will change as the part-

nership matures and the operation

becomes established and scales

up. Building relationships with

new partners and stakeholders is

a cornerstone of success.

. Dif-

ferent partners will have different

priorities. Respecting these and

investing in building good per-

sonal contacts with that partners

will help to build mutual trust and

enthusiasm for continued collabo-

ration. Regular partnership and

team-building meetings should be

held, and constructive feedback

between partners encouraged.

-

larly. Working with partners to

identify and manage risks, to pri-

orities activities, to share success-

es and address shortcomings, are

all important factors in successful

partnership management.

Stage Three: As the partner-

ship matures further

-

ships and changes. As the part-

nership matures, there is a need

for consolidation and establish-

ment of common understanding

between partners. In this con-

nection, appropriate institutional

changes, functional and a system-

atic impact should be ensured.

Recognize that partnerships

need time. A partnership time-

frame is often short whereas part-

nership engagements need trust,

and the capacity for implementa-

tion of the partnership would take

time to build. A careful balance,

acceptable to all, is needed.

-

ly.

-

evitable but can be managed. A

clear allocation of roles and a high

degree of transparency, for exam-

ple through regular information,

progress meetings, etc. helps to

external person or body can help

to draw out the various interests

and to point to options for solu-

tions.

Stage four-Finally, sustaining

Partnership

Consider long term engagement.

There can be instances in which

a partnership fails or a project

turns out to be non-viable. In such

cases, partners need a clear idea

of how to close down the partner-

ship. The time to develop such a

plan is during the establishment of

a partnership.

Institutional reform may be the

most important outcome of the

partnership. In other words, part-

nership projects lead to a gov-

ernment department functioning

contributing more rigorously and

systematically to sustainable seed

sector development in all aspects

of its operations.

Other Factors to keep in mind

A true partnership involves a

joint design of solutions.

No single partner has all the an-

swers. To maximize the potential

for success, all partners (non- gov-

ernmental organizations, private

should participate in designing

the partnership project and setting

its goals. Clearly establishing the

respective roles and responsibili-

ties of each partner is a key to de-

veloping a realistic plan.

Multi-stakeholder partnership for seed sector development:

A theoretical framework....Cont.d

18


Flexibility: There is no one approach

that works for all partners in all cir-

cumstances. Nonetheless, it is crucial

and record mutual expectations and

individual roles and responsibilities,

determine how progress will be meas-

ured and problems solved.

Preparedness to change: Even with

meticulous planning, circumstances

are likely to change. Therefore, it is

important to consider the possibilities

of negative impacts, both environ-

mental and social, and how better to

measure and value non-monetary con-

tributions and community inputs. New

partners need to be chosen carefully,

and formal agreements and MoU re-

visited if necessary.

-

ship initiatives should be in a position

to provide evidence for policy mak-

ers which may help them to persuade

policy changes, and help to create a

more supportive policy framework for

action.

The partnership component of ISSD Oromia East Unit has managed

to engage diverse multi-stakeholder actions with multiple actors.

The thematic areas for partnership engagements set by the ISSD Oro-

mia East seed sector partnership platform were geared in such a way

that partnership interventions could impact on ensuring quality of

seed, improved availability of early generation seed, expanding de-

mand for improved seed through extending knowledge and informa-

tion on seed related issues among smallholder farmers. To this effect

the partnership projects that are under implementation in Oromia East

are described as follows:

nership activities in brief

1. Supporting Development of Seed Processing Technologies

The success of small scale seed production and marketing efforts,

among other factors, is determined by availability of appropriate post

harvest seed processing technologies.

The partnership actors in East Oromia recognises that seed produc-

ers in the intermediate and informal seed systems are not competent

enough to meet the expected quality of seeds for planting in the seed

chain. This is mainly due to limited seed cleaning technologies and

On account of this rationale, the partnership intervention is designed

with the following objectives:

1. To experiment with seed cleaning and grading technology innova-

tions with the view to enhance the competitiveness of small scale seed

producers

2. To improve farmers’ techniques, efforts, and conditions required to

harvest, clean, and grade seed, hence, improving quality

The partnership activity has managed to facilitate the making, adapta-

tion, and evaluation of the following technologies:

i. Manual and motorized groundnut decorticator machine

ii. Multi-purpose seed threshing machine

iii. Maize shelling machine

iv. Seed cleaning machine

This project is a joint effort of FARC and ISSD Oromia East Unit.

Multi-stakeholder Partnership Activities of the

Seed Sector in Oromia East

By Ashebir Demie, Partnership and Private Sector Innovator

19


2. Enhancing Demand for improved seed through

knowledge dissemination

The complexities in the seed system are two-sided:

demand side and supply side problems. Along with

poor seed market orientation, limitations in seed de-

mand creation and promotion of technologies has

resulted in limited demand for improved seeds.

Therefore, this project has been launched with the

following objectives:

i. To facilitate active learning processes with farm-

ers and enhance seed knowledge and information

sharing in a cooperative-based seed extension ap-

proach.

ii. To enhance the effective demand for improved

seed and contribute to the food security endeavour

of the region.

The seed extensions methods employed include:

farmer community conversation (CC), printed me-

fair and other innovative knowledge transfer tools.

The activity is currently implemented by three un-

ions: Afran Qallo, Chercher Oda Bultum, and Bur-

qa Galeti farmers’ cooperative unions in six wore-

das of East and West Hararghe Zones.

3. Improving availability of potato seed supply in

the region

The lack of improved varieties, diseases outbreaks,

poor crop management practices, use of inferior

quality seed tubers of unknown origins, inappropriate

storage structure, and poor seed value chain system s

are among the key factors contributing to low yield

of potato in Ethiopia in general and Oromia East in

particular.

As part of its efforts to addresess this problem,

ISSD-Oromia East Unit has been engaged in increas-

ing the availability of high quality potato seed tubers

at affordable prices in partnership with Kombolcha

ATVET college. The initiative addressed the insti-

tutional problems faced by the college in a manner

that would support the capacity development through

construction of DLS potato storage and developing

water boreholes for irrigation. This was meant to en-

able the institution to supply potato seed tubers of de-

manded varieties in the area. As a result, the project

has resulted in enhanced access to quality potato seed

tubers in the locality.

Multi-purpose seed thresh-

ing machine under evaluation by

Haqan Gudina SPC in 2014

Seed exhibition organised by Afran

Qallo Cooperative Union at Kersa

woreda in 2014

DLS constructed by Kombolcha AT-

VET College through partneship project

in 2013

Multi-stakeholder Partnership Activities of the seed sector ..cont’d20


4. Enhancing Availability and Quality of Im-

proved Hararghe Specialty Coffee seeds and seed-

lings in West Hararghe Zone

Coffee farmers in Ethiopia have been facing com-

plex challenges such as weak market, weak research

and extension linkage, limited infrastructure, limitted

policy supports, inadequate knowledge and knowl-

edge sharing among actors, absence of institutional

learning and partnership, poor development of inno-

vations, etc. Biotic factors that pose serious challange

s to coffee farmers include Coffee Berry Disease

(CBD), and Coffee Wilt Disease (CWD) (Rahmato

et al., 2005).

Hararghe is one of the potential coffee producing ar-

eas of the country and known for the production of

-

duced in this region is known for its unique quality in

both national and international markets. Despite the

presence of favourable envirinmenmtal and climate

conditions for coffee production in the Zone, farmers

are confronted with a number of constraints in coffee

production, processing, and marketing. To improve

this situation, ISSD Oromia East Unit has initiated a

joint partnership project with McARC. The project

has been initiated aimed at enhancing availability of

quality seeds and seedlings for smallholder farmers.

Thus, 60,000 seedlings of improved coffee varieties

released recently by McARC havebeen raised in two

woredas and distributed to smallholder farmers.

Specialty coffee seedlings at

Oda Bultum woreda in 2014

Tailor-made training on seed quality inspection

at HU seed laboratory in 2014

Multi-stakeholder Partnership Activities of the seed sector

..cont’d21

5. Strengthening seed quality inspection capac-

ity of regional regulatory system

Following decentralization of the seed quality con-

trol function at regional levels, Oromia Regional Bu-

reau of Agriculture was bestowed with the mandate

However, the capacity limitation in terms of trained

in the region. Strengthening the capacity of human-

power working in the region’s seed laboratories is

required to realise an effective seed qulaity control

and maintainance mechanism.

In this regard ISSD Oromia East Unit has tasked

itself with the provision of tailor-made training on

region. The initiative was taken jointly by ISSD Oro-

for Research Affairs of HU.


The imperative of national food security and economic

development demands a focused and resolute approach

to raise productivity and production in agriculture. Thus,

in a country like Ethiopia, where agriculture is the major

source of income for the population and a major export

earner, seed acts as an important component for food secu-

rity and is an important driver for economic growth. Fur-

thermore, seed has been described as an essential, strate-

gic, and relatively inexpensive input that often determines

the upper limit of crop yields and the use of all other agri-

cultural inputs. Many reports indicate that it is possible to

increase yield by 30 to 50 percent by using good quality

seed as compared to poor quality seed (Wang, 2008). Gov-

ernments and donors recognised the critical role of seed in

agricultural transformation and began providing substan-

tial support for the seed system development. In line with

this, the ISSD programme is making consistent efforts to

promote a local level seed production that contributes to

the availability of affordable quality seed at local levels;

at the same time, it is aiming at promoting local entrepre-

neurship and rural economic development.

In this connection, a key question is how to sustain the

long-term commercial viability of the LSBs that are capa-

ble of generating, producing, and leading to a wider dis-

tribution of new seed varieties that meet the needs of all

farmers, in a cost-effective way. Seed businesses must be

-

etary terms or by other socio-economic measures) if they

are to develop and grow sustainably.

-

ability of potato seed businesses of smallholder farmers in

Haramaya and Chiro woredas of East and West Hararghe

Zones. To achieve the objectives, the study followed the

-

ity analysis tools such as cost components of seed produc-

-

ity of smallholder farmers. The preliminary output of the

study is presented as follows:

Results of the Study

Seed business and Productivity

Potato is produced two times a year in both Haramaya and

Chiro districts (woredas) using rainfall and irrigation. The

average yields of seed and ware potato tubers obatained

by smallholder farmers were computed over a one-year

period (Figure 3). The average yields of seed and ware

potato tubers for Haramaya woreda was 571 and 494 Qt/

ha/year, respectively. The average yields seed and ware

potato tubers for Chiro woreda were about 278 and 213

Qt/ha/year, respectively. However, the overall average

production computed for both woredas revealed that the

average seed potato tuber yield was 424 Qt/ha/yr and the

average ware potato tuber yield was 353 Qt/ha/year. This

clearly shows that, in both woredas, smallholder farmers

that produced potato seed tubers were more productive

than those that produced ware potato tubers. This indicates

-

ness compared to production of ware potato tubers in both

woredas. However, potato seed tuber production per hec-

tare was higher in Haramaya woreda than in Chiro woreda

(Figure 3).

Figure 3: Potato seed tuber productivity at

Haramaya and Chiro Woredas

F : Seed Business

Leading to Higher Economic Returns for Smallholder Farmers

By Reta Wagery, Agribusiness Innovator

22


Cost of potato production

The estimated costs incurred by smallholder farmers to

produce seed and ware potato tubers in Haramaya and

Chiro woredas are indicated in Figure 4. All production,

marketing, and material costs such as expenditures on hu-

man labour, seed, fertilizer, pesticides, irrigation, interest

on operating capital and land use cost, etc were calculated

on a hectare basis. The gross cost mainly included total

incurred by smallholder farmers to produce seed and ware

potato tubers amounted to 10,0584 and 81,848 Birr/ha/

year, respectively (Figure 4).

To get the full picture, we used the most common eco-

nomic measurements to examine the limiting factors and

on investments (ROI) were computed (Figure 6). The av-

seed tuber production in Chiro woreda were 84,849 and

77,884 Birr/ha/year, respectively. However, the gross mar-

in the same woreda were 35,466 and 30,115 Birr/ha/year,

from potato seed tuber in Haramya woreda were 18,1969

and 165,210 Birr/ha/year, respectively. Similarly, the

Haramaya woreda were 132,118 and 118,858 Birr/ha/year,

respectively. On the other hand, the overall average gross

potato seed tuber production were 133,409 and 121,546

Birr/ha/year, respectively. But, the values from ware po-

tato production in both woredas were 83,791 and 74,486

Birr/ha/year, in the order listed here.

Furthermore, the return on capital investment (ROI) was

also estimated to analyse the viability of seed and ware

potato enterprises. The overall average ROI computed

for both woredas from seed tuber production was 130%

whereas that of ware potato tuber production was 95% .

The main share in the gross cost for potato seed tuber pro-

duction was labour cost and input cost, each sharing 39%.

Labour cost comprises family labour and oxen use, while

input costs include expenditures on seed, fertilizer, and

fuel. Similarly, the major share in the gross cost of ware

potato seed production were material cost (41%), labour

cost (39%), and other costs (20%).

Figure 4: Average seed potato tuber production cost

Figure 5: Average cost components of ware

potato tuber production

F23


In all economic measurements, potato seed tuber pro-

-

to production. This clearly shows that the seed business

businesses in both woreda. However, the seed business

is probably due to the fact that smallholder farmers in

Haramya cultivated high yielding potato varieties. The

other reason could be that potato farmers in Haramaya

woreda have easier access to market and market infor-

mation than those in Chiro woreda.

COnclusion

The study has revealed that the major share in gross

costs of seed and ware potato production were labour

analysis indicated that potato seed business costs more

than grain (ware potato) enterprise. However, potato

potato businesses in both woredas. The result of this

study has demonstrated that increased yields enhance

Therefore, the use of high yielding improved potato va-

seed businesses in the region. The result of compara-

leads to a higher economic return for smallholder farm-

ers than a grain (ware potato) businesses. The result also

clearly shows that the income of potato seed producing

smallholder farmers was lifted up as compared to ware

potato producers. This implies that smallholder potato

farmers that engaged in potato seed business are mov-

Therefore, policy makers, Government Organizations,

NGO, SPCs and other local partners should work to-

wards building the capacity of smallholder farmers to

transform the seed sector of the country.

F24


Seed quality control/assurance, which is vital at

every segment of the activity, is invariably ne-

glected by most of the stakeholders in the seed

sector. It is well known that the seed quality control is

-

tem. Some records show that the seed quality concept

and rudimentary activities in seed quality aspects were

introduced to the seed system even before the present

formal seed production and distribution got its current

shape some 30 years ago. Since then, especially after the

enforcement of the Ethiopian seed law No. 206/2000,

seed quality control has shown some progresses but it

has gradually weakened to its current alarming status

(Dawit et.al, 2004).

Regional seed quality control bodies are striving to reach

the production premises of several private and public

seed production farms. The regional seed quality control

bodies are also expected to inspect and verify the seed

production plots of their regional seed enterprises. Since

both the regional seed enterprises and the seed regula-

of agriculture, compromise in quality would not be un-

expected under these situations. The organizational set-

up and the trans-regional seed movements are becoming

areas of debate. While all of the regional seed quality

control bodies have remained weak, some of them de-

-

gions. This will seriously affect availability of seeds of

demanding region (Dawit et.al, 2004).

-

tioning as expected with an immense gap between the

-

ple, although most seed sold to farmers (including seed

from Farmer-Based Seed Multiplication (FBSM)) is

-

ited less often than the current regulations stipulate and

presence of certifying agents (IFPRI, 2010). As the seed

increasingly take place at smaller and more dispersed

-

come more complex.

weak seed law and regulation, shortage of seed analyst

expertise in the seed value chain are the most serious

gaps affecting seed business marketing of Local Seed

Businesses (LSBs) of ISSD Oromia East in particular.

Hence, capacity building in seed experts and establish-

ment of an effective seed quality inspection is indispen-

sable.

As the experience of some countries like India shows,

quality control problems have been addressed and

-

belling. Nowadays, in Ethiopia, though smallholder

buyers may assess the quality of seed by themselves, it

is high time that farmers’ seed producer cooperatives,

micro level private seed producers, etc., accessed an al-

ternative seed quality assurance mechanism.

However, in the present situation, the public seed regu-

latory organs or any government agency alone cannot

meet the regulatory and advisory service functions for

enhancement of seed quality, which calls for knowledge

institutions like Haramaya University to provide qual-

ity advisory support for intermediate and informal seed

producers.

In view of the above facts, the ISSD Oromia East Unit

has set up an institutional mechanism under the auspices

rendering seed quality advisory services to smallholder

farmers and other stakeholders.

The Seed Quality Advisory Service/Facility will con-

tribute to the ongoing household and the national food

security endeavours through improving access to tech-


Towards a Seed Quality Advisory Service in Oromia East 25


nical advice, voluntary seed quality assurance mecha-

nism for intermediate seed system, provision of training

for seed producers with special focus on cooperatives,

micro level private sectors, etc., availing enterprise

level advisory services pertaining to seed quality in the

region.

Accordingly, ISSD Oromia East Unit has been striv-

ing to build the capacity of experts drawn from public

intuitions and NGOs in order to launch a seed quality

advisory service as well as support the regional body to

enhance the implementation of seed law and regulatory

framework.

By doing so, two major tasks have been already accom-

plished. First, tailor-made training was given to experts

drawn from local and regional public institutions on seed

The objective of the training was to enhance the seed

quality assurance capacity of the regional regulatory

body/functionaries; The training themes were focused

on seed production techniques, legal and ethical issues

procedures, legal and policy frameworks, seed quality

analysis techniques and seed health testing. By using

senior lecturers and scientist from the HU, the biologi-

cal and social aspects of major crops grown in Ethiopia

(cereals, pulses, and oil and horticultural crops) were

covered. This training gave the trainees the opportunity

to have in-depth theoretical knowledge as well as prac-

tical skills concerning seed quality analysis. Emphasis

was also given to the topic on ‘legal, ethical and policy

frameworks’. Going beyond the seed sector, legal issues

of genetic land race and species were also dealt with. In

a nutshell, during this training, ‘lack of regulation and

institutional innovation’ on genetic resources and spe-

-

tor innovation. Second, a seed quality monitoring work-

ing group was set up constituting experts from HU and

Bureaus of Agriculture from East and West Hararghe

Zones. This working group has already begun inspec-

-

planting and will continue until harvest.

Capacitating regional seed experts through

hands on experience at HU seed Laboratory

Regional quality seed inspection experts visit to

private seed grower at Haramaya Woreda

Towards a Seed Quality ...cont’d26


On site coaching of SPC members and DAs on seed quality

monitoring at Jalala Bishan Babile SPC in 2014

A Photo Story: The Journey of ISSD Oromia East in 2014

On-site monitoring and evaluation of

LSB scaling up at CAiLR, Chiro Woreda

Capacity building for partners scaling

-

maya woreda

Capacity building for consolidation

SPCs, Haramaya woreda

Seed community gathering day at

Guba Koricha woreda

Workshop for partners scaling up LSBs

on key performance assessment

The top three best performing partners

scaling up LSBs in Oromia East were

awarded a trophy in mid-2014

Towards a Seed Quality ...cont’d27



A Photo Story: The Journey of ISSD Oromia East in 2014

Awareness creation for Raree Horaa

woreda

Enhancing quality seed through intro-

duction of post-harvest seed processing

technologies, Kersa woreda

Facilitating knowledge dis-

semination through national

radio programmes, Kersa

woreda Mini-media installation

at Abdi Jalala SPC to facili-

tate learning, Chiro woreda

Seed knowledge

dissemination through

different mechanisms

An experience sharing event

for innovators and scaling up

partners at the Ethiopian seed

enterprise, Asella Branch

Enhancing knowledge dissemination through success story development at Abdi

Jalala SPCs, Chiro woreda

Facilitating knowledge dissemination

through sharing success stories at Bilisa

SPC, Gemechis woreda

LSB Scaling up partner investment in

DLS construction, Bilisa SPC at Gem-

echis woreda

Regional quality seed experts visit a

woreda

28


MSc research study on effect of wheat seed quality on productivity at Kersa LSB site being visited by stakeholders

-

sity in mid 2014

29


Girma Amente (PhD)

HU President and ISSD Institu-

tional advisor

Email: [email protected]

Moblie: +251-930074541

Alemayehu Assefa

HU-ISSD Farmer

organization innovator

Email: asefa.alemayehu@

gmail.com

Mobile: +251-913999317

Nigussie Dechassa (PhD)

Vice President for Research

Affairs and HU-ISSD scien-

Email: nigussiedachassa@

gmail.com

Mobile: +251-915321046

Reta Wagery

HU-ISSD Agri-business in-

novator


Mobile: +251-911957585

Dandena Gelmesa

HU-ISSD Seed innovator and

PhD student

Email: dandenagalmesa@

gmail.com

Mobile: +251-920446517

Ashebir Demie

HU-ISSD Partnership and

Private sector innovator


Mobile: +251-910547719

Kemal Kasim

HU-ISSD Knowledge shar-

ing and capacity development

innovator

Email: kemalkasim@yahoo.

com

Mobile: +251-913179853

mmmm

Mobibibibilelele: : : +2+25151-9-9131317179898985353

Mobile: +251-910547719com

Mobile: +251-913179853

HARAMAYA UNIVERSITY

ISSD Programme Staff Members

30

Asefa Teshoma

HU-ISSD Driver

Mobile: 251-928174849

Gizachew Abera

HU-ISSD Driver

Mobile: +251-922379698

Meried Shibru

HU-ISSD Programme Manage-

ment Facilitator

Email: mshibru@ymail.

com

Mobile: +251-911771881

Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD) Ethiopia Programme, Annual Magazine 2014, Haramaya UniversityIntegrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD) Ethiopia Programme, Annual Magazine 2014, Haramaya University

31

Cees Leeuwis (2011). Communication for Rural Innovation. Rethinking Agricultural Extension. London:

Plackwell PLC.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2008). Evaluation Guide: Fundamentals of Evaluating Part-

nerships. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Dawit Alemu, Shiratori Kiyoshi, Abebe Kirub and Kibebew Assefa (2004). Ensuring seed quality in

Ethiopian seed system: Challenges and opportunities available [Online] at [www.jica.go.jp/project/eng-

lish/ethiopia/.../seminar_proceedings_03.pdf]

Desalegn Rahmato (2005). From Heterogeneity to Homogeneity: Agrarian Class Structure in Ethiopia

since the 1950s. Paper presented at conference on ‘Land and the challenge of sustainable development:

a public dialog’, co-hosted by Forum of for Social Studies (FSS), the Ethiopian Economic Association

(EEA) and the Agricultural Economics Society of Ethiopia (AESE), held on August 5, 2005, Hilton Hotel

Addis Ababa. Ethiopia

FAO (2003). Land Tenure Studies. The design of land consolidation pilot projects in Central and Eastern

Europe. Pp. 58 Rome Italy

Global Knowledge Partnership Secretariat (2003). Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships issue paper. Kuala

Lumpur, Malaysia

IFPRI (2010). Seed system potential in Ethiopia: Constraints and opportunities for enhancing the seed

sector. Available [Online] at [www.ata.gov.et/wp.../Ethiopia-Seed-System.pdf]

International institute for sustainable development (2006). Multi-Stakeholder Engagement Processes. A

UNDP Capacity Development Resource, conference paper #7 working draft

LSB (2011). Local Seed Business Newsletter, Issue 7. Available at http://portals.wi.wur.nl/agrobiodiver-

sity/

Mariëtte van Huijstee (2012). Multi-Stakeholder initiatives: strategic guide for civil society development.

SOMO, the Netherlands.

Nancy Vallejo and Pierre Hauselmann (2012). Governance and Multi-stakeholder Processes. United Na-

tions Conference on Trade and Development, the International Institute for Sustainable Development

Wang F. (2008). The importance of quality potato seed increasing potato production in Asia and the Pa-

erererer P P Partnershipipips issue papaper. Kuala

opoppopoportunititities fofofor enenenhahahancncncining g thththe e seseseededed

-Sysysysysystem.m.pdpdf]f]f]

akakehehehololdeder EnEngagagegegememementnt P P Prorocecesseses. A A A

ining g g drafaft

h h h httttp:p://////poportrtrtalalals.s.wiwiwi.w.wur.nl/l/l/agrobibibiodododiviviver--

Global Knowledge Partnership Secretariat (2003). Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships issue paper. Kuala

IFPRI (2010). Seed system potential in Ethiopia: Constraints and opportunities for enhancing the seed

sector. Available [Online] at [www.ata.gov.et/wp.../Ethiopia-Seed-System.pdf]

ernational institute for sustainable development (2006). Multi-Stakeholder Engagement Processes. A

UNDP Capacity Development Resource, conference paper #7 working draft

LSB (2011). Local Seed Business Newsletter, Issue 7. Available at http://portals.wi.wur.nl/agrobiodiver

References


32 Snapshots of Agri-business and Finance Fair at HU, 2014


33

Experience Sharing Event

for Innovators and Focal

Persons,

2014

Regional Workshop, 2014,

Haramaya University

Experience Sharing Event

for Second Generation LSBs,

2014

ISSD Oromia East Working in Knowlege Brokering and Facilitation


34

Seed Community

Gathering Day at Mieso

woreda, CAiLR,

2014

Awareness Creation

through Entertainment

Education,

2014

Seed Fair Event

Organized at Kersa woreda,

2014

Diverse Communication Strategies Enhances Knowledge

Circulation and Adoption

Monitoring a common bean

Koricha woreda

Farmers observing the

performance of the Kuncho Teff

Haramaya University ISSD Oromia East Newsletter · 2015. 1. 14. · Integrated Seed Sector...

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